Marine wave meter



y 5 A. KLEBBA 2,637,999

MARINE WAVE METER Filed April 10, 1946 y uqoa ney Patented May 12, 1953PATENT OFFICE States of America as commented b caretrr 0.1!- the yApplication April 10, 1945, Serial No. 660.867

( o1. is-s01) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a wave meter. More particularly, the inventionis concerned with a shore recording wave meter which measures change inpressure levels at the bottom or the sea, to furnish means fordetermining the occurrence of waves and their characteristics.

Information regarding the condition of the surface of the sea at variousdistances from an observation point on shore is frequently desirable.For example, in determining Whether a seaplane can land in the sea at agiven point, it is very desirable to linow approximately the height ofthe waves occurring in this particular area as well as the spacing ofthe waves. Various. other situations suggest themselves where data, ofthis type are helpful.

[in object of the invention therefore is to protide a metering device tobe mounted on the shore for detecting surtace changes in sea water, inorder to obtain an indication of wave occurrence in a given area at somedistance from the shore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dev ce t at will thefluctuat ng component of a prossue without responding to relatively slowchanges in the magnitude of the pres Qther objects and novel featureswill appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing the sole figure is a longitudinalcross-sectional view illustrating preferred embodiment of the invention.

The structure shown in the drawing constitutes one suitable means foraccomplishing the objects of the invention and includes in general abellows member which is responsive to fluctuations in sea water pressureresulting from the action of the waves. The bellows moves a coil whichpasses through a magnetic field cutting lines of flux. The voltage thusgenerated is utilized to operate a fluxmeter galvanometer. The action ofthe fluxmeter galvanometer is recorded on a photographic tape member,thus producing a graphic illustration of pressure changes. The pressurechanges are calibrated with known pressurepulses in the order ofmagnitude of those to be measured under sea conditions, thus furnishinga basis for closely estimating the height and spacing of waves in adesired locality.

Numeral ll) denotes a cylindrical member separated by a panel ll into anupper section and lower section. The top cylinder is formed withopenings l2 through which sea water is allowed to enter into the uppersection. A bellows member M is also mounted in the upper section of thecylindrical member and is responsive to movement of the sea water,opening and closing with changes in pressure. A spring member lli,mounted on a clock iii, tends to maintain the bellows in an erectposition and provide the proper displa smont of the bellows. An innercylindrical member ll, closed at one end and joining panel it in anairtight seal at its open end, communicates with bellows it by a channel2t passing through panel ii and block lh A second bellows i8 is disposedwithin cylindrical member ii. The open end of bellows i8 is joined tothe closed end of member ii in an tight seal. The second bellows memberit forms a closed air space and moves in accordance with pressure on thebellows it. an opening '22 through cylindrical member ll provides for aslow leak so that air can equalize in pressure on both sides of thebellows it. The slow leak for pressure equalization may be accomplishedby means 015 a capillary tube 25 shown coiled around cylindrical n.inber ll. One end capillary tube communicates with the interior ofcylindrical member ll through opening and the other end communicateswith the space surrounding member W. The pressure within bellows 535 isequal to the pressure outside cylindrical member ll, since shalt 26 doesnot make an airtight lit with end of cylindrical member ll. Equalizationis desirable to compensate for tide change and installation of theinstrument on the ocean bottom.

Movement of the bellows ill in a vertical direction, as viewed in thedrawing, actuates a rod member 24 which in turn drives a pin 26 andmoves a coil 28 in a magnetic field. The voltage thus induced is carriedthrough conductor to through a cable 32 to a shore recording unitconstiting of a fiuxmeter galvanometer 3d. The galvanometer ispreferably combined with a photographic tape unit of well knowncharacter, by means of which there is produced a continuous recording ofpressure change from which suitable deductions may be made. It is to beunderstood that a suitable voltmeter may be substituted for therecording unit 34 if desired. However, since the voltage induced in coil28 is fluctuating, the data represented by this voltage may be moreaccurately interpreted if a record of the fluctuation is made by asuitable recording unit.

An important feature of the device is the construction of a relativelylarge gas-filled bellows surrounded by liquid, and a relatively smallgasfilled bellows surrounded by gas. The bellows 18 moves a distanceproportionate to that through which the larger bellows moves, thusadapting movement of the larger bellows to the limitations of themagnetic field. Moreover, relatively slow fluctuations in pressure ofless importance are leveled off by means of the outlet 22 and theequalization thus provided for. As a result, some degree of selectivityis developed which indicates the occurrence of waves of appreciablemagnitude.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should beunderstood that various changes and modifications may be resorted to, inkeeping with the scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for measuring relatively rapid fluctuations in the heightof a fluid column comprising, a plate having a central aperture formedtherein, a first resilient bellows having one open end and one closedend, the open end of said first bellows being joined to said plate atone side thereof in a fluid tight seal in a position to surround saidaperture, a first cup-like member having the open end thereof joined tothe other side of said plate in a fluid tight seal in a regionsurrounding said aperture, a second cup-like member of greater size thansaid first surrounding said first cup-like member and having the openend thereof secured to said plate in a fluid tight seal, a secondresilient bellows disposed within said first cup-like member and havingan open end secured to the bottom of said first cup-like member in afluid tight seal, said first cup-like member being formed with anopening in the bottom thereof providing free communication between theinterior of said second bellows and the interior of said second cup-likemember, means formed with a restricted passage connecting the interiorof said first cup-like member to the interior of said second cup-likemember, means responsive to movement of said second bellows forgenerating an electrical signal and a cable passing through said secondcup-like member in a liquid tight seal for coupling said electricalsignal to an indicator.

2. Apparatus for measuring relatively rapid fluctuations in the heightof a variable height fluid column comprising a first resilient bellowscapable of responding to changes in pressure at all heights of saidfluid column, a supporting plate sealing an open end 01' said firstbellows, a cuplike member having the open end thereof joined to saidplate opposite said first bellows, said plate being formed with anaperture therein providing free communication between said first bellowsand the interior of said cup-like member, a second bellows having anopen end thereof joined to the bottom of saidcup-like member, saidsecond bellows being capable of responding to all rapid fluctuations inpressure within said cup-like member, said second bellows having anormal volume small compared to the maximum volume of said firstbellows, an enclosing means surrounding said cup-like member and joinedto said supporting plate to form a fluid tight chamber, said cup-likemember being formed with an opening in the bottom thereof providing freecommunication between the interior of said second bellows and said fluidtight chamber, a capillary tube connecting the interior of the cup-likemember to said fluid tight chamber thereby to provide for slowequalization of pressure on the interior and exterior of said secondbellows, means responsive to movement of said second bellows forgenerating an electrical signal and a cable passing through saidenclosing means in a fluid tight seal for coupling said electricalsignal to an indicator.

ARTHUR A. KLEBBA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,929,091 Colvin Oct. 3, 1933 2,059,549 Carlson Nov. 3, 19362,139,509 Marcellus Dec. 6, 1938 2,140,954 Frazee Dec. 20, 19382,164,791 Waller July 4, 1939 2,466,071 Barnes, Jr., et al Apr. 5, 1949FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 559,149 Great Britain Feb. '7, 1944OTHER REFERENCES Article by Holter in publication Electronics," pages94-98, May 1946 issue.

